Calendula Plant Named &#39;KERCALDIVIMP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calendula  plant named ‘Kercaldivimp’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely and continuously flowering habit; long flowering period; large fully double inflorescences with bright orange-colored ray florets; good container and landscape performance and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Calendula hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KERCALDIVIMP’.

Cross-reference to a related application and statement regarding priordisclosures by Inventors/Applicants:

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rightsapplication filed on Apr. 10, 2019, application number 19-9751. Therehave been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalendula plant, botanically known as Calendula hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Kercaldivimp’.

The new Calendula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new uniformly mounding Calendulaplants that flower continuously for a long period of time and have goodcontainer and landscape performance.

The new Calendula plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2015of a proprietary selection of Calendula hybrida identified as codenumber 13-22-19, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withCalendula hybrida ‘Kercalsun’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,994,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calendula plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Cambridge, United Kingdom in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calendula plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Cambridge, UnitedKingdom since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Calendula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calendula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Calendula. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kercaldivimp’ as a new anddistinct Calendula plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely and continuously flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Large fully double inflorescences with bright orange-colored        ray florets.    -   7. Good container and landscape performance and tolerance to        Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calendula have double inflorescences        whereas plants of the female parent selection have semi-double        inflorescences.    -   3. Plants of the new Calendula have shorter peduncles than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Calendula have not been observed to set        seed whereas plants of the female parent selection have abundant        seed set.    -   5. Plants of the new Calendula are more tolerant to Powdery        Mildew than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Kercalsun’, in ray floret color as plants of the new Calendulahave bright yellow-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Kercalsun’have bright yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Calendula can be compared to plants of Calendulahybrida ‘Kercaldiva’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,517. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calendula differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Kercaldiva’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of ‘Kercaldiva’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Calendula are more fully        double than inflorescences of plants of ‘Kercaldiva’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calendula have not been observed to set        seed whereas plants of ‘Kercaldiva’ have abundant seed set.    -   4. Plants of the new Calendula are more tolerant to Powdery        Mildew than plants of ‘Kercaldiva’.

Plants of the new Calendula also can be compared to plants of Calendulahybrida ‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calendula are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calendula have not been observed to set        seed whereas plants of ‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’ have        abundant seed set.    -   4. Plants of the new Calendula are more tolerant to Powdery        Mildew than plants of ‘Winter Wonders Orange & Ice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Calendula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calendula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kercaldivimp’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Kercaldivimp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 7.5-litercontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdomand under cultural practices typical of commercial Calendula production.Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calendula hybrida ‘Kercaldivimp’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calendula            hybrida identified as code number 13-22-19, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Calendula hybrida ‘Kercalsun’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,994.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at soil            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at soil            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at soil temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at soil temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly            spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about five to            six primary stems each with about four to six secondary            lateral branches; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 31 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 49 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 31 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            Main stems, mostly upright; lateral stems about outwardly            from main stems. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent,            ridged; matte. Color: Close to 144B and 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 9 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely            pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146B; venation, close to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Double-type inflorescences developing on            terminal and axillary peduncles; inflorescences with            numerous ray florets; disc floret development has not been            observed; inflorescences positioned on strong peduncles;            inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with 52 to 63            inflorescences per plant at one time. Fragrance: None            detected. Flowering response: Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about eight weeks after planting in            Cambridge, United Kingdom. Natural flowering season: Long            flowering period, plants flower continuously from spring            until frost in temperate regions; in Cambridge, United            Kingdom, plants flower from March until November.            Inflorescence longevity: Depending on actual temperature,            inflorescences last about ten to eleven days on the plant;            inflorescences persistent. Inflorescence buds. Height: About            1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and            luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 137C; ray florets,            close to 163B and apices, close to 165A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 1.8 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 3 mm.        -   Receptacle color.—Close to 145B.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            101 arranged in about four to six whorls. Length: About            2.6 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute            or fimbriate with three points. Base: Narrowly cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly horizontal, apices reflexing            with development. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Mostly            smooth and glabrous, proximally, pubescent; matte. Color.            When opening, upper surface: Brighter than N25C to N25D; at            the apices, slightly tinged with close to 165A; towards the            base, close to brighter than 14B. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 14A; at the apices, slightly tinged with            close to 165A; towards the base, close to 12A. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to N25C; towards the base, close to 6A;            venation, similar to lamina; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N25D; at            the apices, slightly tinged with close to 165A; towards the            base, close to 9B; venation, similar to lamina or close to            166C; color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—To date, disc floret initiation and            development have not been observed on inflorescences of            plants of the new Calendula.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 26 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm.            Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: When opening, mostly            upright; open inflorescences, mostly horizontal. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent; matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to            147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.4 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Slightly ridged,            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed on ray            florets. Gynoecium. Quantity per ray floret: One. Pistil            length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:            Proximally, close to 1D and distally, close to 1B. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 168A. Ovary color:            Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calendula.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calendula have been    observed to be tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Golovinomyces    cichoracearum). Plants of the new Calendula have not been shown to    be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Calendula    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calendula have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures from    about −5° C. to about 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calendula plant named‘Kercaldivimp’ as illustrated and described.